DATA published today suggests local authority performance in Wales is improving despite the spending cuts.

The Local Government Data Unit Wales’ sixth annual report was based on information collected from all 22 councils in Wales and looks at performance across a range of service areas.

Richard Palmer, unit head of improvement, said: “The 2010-11 data again shows that, overall, local authority performance in Wales continues to improve across a range of services.

“We have undertaken an analysis of those performance measures which are comparable between 2009-10 and 2010-11. Over two-thirds show an improvement at an all-Wales level.

“This year, we have seen the gap in performance between the best and worst performing authorities narrow for over half of the indicators.”

An area of significant improvement was in the inspection of high-risk food premises such as restaurants and takeaways. In the year to March, all but five councils inspected every premises.

But there were big differences, for example, in the time children and young people wait for a disabled facilities grant.

Monmouthshire council deputy leader Bob Greenland said: “All Welsh local authorities use the National Performance Measurement Framework to assess their overall performance. This helps public accountability, but there are limitations. It is overly focused on measuring process rather than outcomes or satisfaction levels.

“It can also put too much emphasis on areas which are not important to local people.

“For example, there are separate measures about the condition of council buildings, but none that measure economic development – one of Monmouthshire’s three priorities.”

Denbighshire council topped the Western Mail’s unofficial table on council performance for a second year, while Cardiff council came bottom again. The capital city has been 22nd every year but one since the table began in 2005.

Points were awarded according to local authorities’ performance across 50 parameters.

A Cardiff council spokeswoman said: “We continue to strive to improve the services we offer to the citizens of Cardiff during a challenging economic period.

“In nearly half of all performance indicators, improvements have been made. We rank among the best in Wales in terms of the rate of care for elderly people in care homes, among the highest in the number of adults holding a bus pass and top in visits to public libraries.”